Coming "Home"

Hi! I just wanted to let you all know that plans are a little more finalized for Arm and I to return to the states. Arm picked up his visa here and they wouldn't change the date, so he has to be in the US before February 27, 2010. I talked with my boss today and (Praise GOD!) they are going to work with me as much as they can. They're going to give me mostly Listening and Speaking classes because those final exams are before the official final exam weeks, so that means I can finish my classes before I leave. This is a huge blessing because we were nervous that Arm would have to be in America about a month before I could join him because grades won't be turned into the university until the middle to end of March. However, with Listening and Speaking classes, those final exams are taken in February and are very easy to grade. Therefore, I can either go with Arm or follow him a few days later. We're still ironing out those details and we probably won't know for sure until after this semester is completely finished, which is mid-October, however it is a huge blessing that I am able to get listening and speaking classes and that we know it will be no more than 3 or 4 days at the most that Arm may have to leave before me. We are planning to be in the states for 3-5 years. I want to get my master's degree in education and I think I will have to work first because we're not sure when Arm will recieve his green card.

Please continue praying that things will be worked out and that the other foreign teachers won't be too mad at me for taking all the listening and speaking classes which leaves them with a lot of writing classes (and grading).

Also, pray for Arm during this transition process. We will be spending quite a bit of time with his family, which is expected, and he will have a big transition. The longest he has been away from home (and in the states) is 2 months, and he was really homesick. While he's been living in Thailand, he calls his family at least once a week and visits them at least once a month, so this will be quite a change. In addition, he will be training 2 students to kind of take his place after he leaves.

Also, pray for me that reverse culture shock will not be too bad when I arrive in the states since it will be almost 3 years since I have been in the states. I know a lot of things have changed and my ideas of what America is really like may be sugar coated since we usually tend to remember the good and forget the bad. Pray that I will be sensitive to Arm's culture shock and that we will both find jobs quickly when we arrive in the states.

Thank you all for your continual support! I really appreciate it and we look forward to seeing you all soon :D :D.